The event: The 22nd annual “A Night at Sardi's,” which honored members of “The Big Bang Theory's” cast, Glen Campbell and the Campbell family. A star-studded revue of Broadway and country tunes, the Wednesday affair benefited the Alzheimer's Assn. (Campbell, who suffers from the disease, did not attend.) The program : Sarah Rafferty of “Suits” and Ben Feldman of “Mad Men” welcomed the crowd. TV director-producer James Burrows introduced comedian Bob Newhart, who told both a riddle and a parrot joke (from what he called his collection of parrot jokes)

Manchester United's efforts to salvage a disastrous season with a UEFA Champions League title grew a lot more difficult Friday when the English Premier League team was matched against defending champion Bayern Munich of Germany in next month's tournament quarterfinals. In the other matches Spanish giant Barcelona will meet La Liga rival Atletico Madrid; Real Madrid was drawn against 2013 Champions League runner-up Borussia Dortmund; and England's Chelsea will play Paris St-Germain of France's Ligue 1. “As I said before, all seven teams left are very strong," Paris St-Germain President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi said of the draw.

The event: Rebels With a Cause at Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood on Thursday honored Oracle Corp. co-founder and Chief Executive Larry Ellison, raising $9 million to benefit the medical research of Dr. David Agus, director of the USC Westside Cancer Center and the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine. The news: Paramount CEO Brad Grey announced plans to build a new cancer institute in Los Angeles. He said it's envisioned to be “a life-changing and life-saving facility, dedicated to providing the most cutting edge and groundbreaking medicine available.” The show: Pharrell Williams bounded from onstage into the audience, singing his Oscar-nominated tune “Happy” as guests rose up to dance along, some of them, such as January Jones, snapping close-ups.

Here's the Lakers' newest nightmare development, other than the play-so-terribly-they-miss-playoffs one they're living now. It starts with plenty of money to spend on free agents. And there's a player or two who can change a franchise. But he's also being recruited by the New York Knicks. Phil Jackson vs. the Lakers? Could easily happen. It won't be in July unless the Lakers show a renewed interest in Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony should he opt out of his contract. But next year, when Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge could be available, the Knicks and Lakers will have plenty of money.

USC's women's basketball team gathered Monday among family, fans and athletic department personnel to learn its NCAA tournament opponent and destination. A stirring run to win the Pac-12 Conference tournament March 9 ensured there would be no sense of bubble-induced foreboding, only eager anticipation. When USC's name flashed during the televised announcement of the 64-team field, the reception room in the Galen Center erupted in cheers and applause. USC, making its first tournament appearance since 2006, will play St. John's on Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn.

Re "Insane? Hardly," Opinion, March 11 The Duke of Wellington said it best. When asked about Napoleon's propensity to always go on the attack, he said: "A conqueror is like a cannonball … he can only go forward. Once he rebounds, his career is over. " So it is with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Whether bullying members of Pussy Riot or cowing his opposition, Putin can only be dissuaded by force. All the sanctions in the world will only give him another excuse to go on the offensive.

SAN DIEGO -- Rattlesnakes are slithering into public view throughout the county in greater numbers than in previous years. Since Jan. 1, the county Department of Animal Services reports 78 emergency calls about rattlesnakes -- three times as many as the same period last year. A mild winter and then several heat spells are drawing the snakes out of their winter dens before their usual spring arrival, according to Dawn Danielson, director of the Department of Animal Services. Several tips: Keep your dog on a leash when walking in snake territory, don't get distracted by your cellphone, and clean away woodpiles from your backyard.

The dark side of childhood may not be something adults like to think about. But it takes haunting shape in Yoshitomo Nara's wide-ranging exhibition at Blum & Poe, its presence all the more potent for being subdued. In 11 new paintings, 10 recent sculptures and more than 200 drawings made over the last 30 years, Nara treats children as complex creatures whose inner lives are as rich as anyone's and far more mysterious than adults usually treat them. The 54-year-old artist's bronze sculptures are big lumpy heads.